Perk Valley School Board OKs goals for coming year

PERKIOMEN—The Perkiomen Valley School Board has approved its 2013 goals.

The board voted 7-1 on the goals at its March 18 meeting, on a motion made by Vice President Lynn Bigelow. Board member Ann Mantey was absent.

Prior to the vote, district Superintendent Clifford Rogers said the board had put a considerable amount of work into getting to that point, although he added that there were still a few issues that needed to be revisited.

In particular, Rogers referred to a proposed goal to provide a technology infrastructure supporting anywhere, anytime learning, and to select a contractor or vendor so that installation could begin this coming summer, with an operational target of September 2014. The outcome of further discussion was that the proposal was not included in the final version of the goals.

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As approved, the goals were organized under the headings of governance, fiscal responsibility, student achievement, health and safety, and communications.

Under “governance,” the board’s goals would include supporting “strategic plan goals with continued emphasis on finding and supporting differentiated solutions for every child so that all schools meet or exceed” the state’s requirements for adequate yearly progress. Other goals in this category would be to express positions on legislative issues pertaining to public education, and to conduct a self-evaluation and participate in “team-building activity.”

Goals under the fiscal responsibility category include defining current alternatives to tax revenue and doubling them over the next two years. Other goals would include initiating a Guaranteed Energy Savings Act project to allow the district to make capital improvements with dollars from energy savings, reviewing district population trends in order to make recommendations for facilities and resource needs, creating a new reporting process to improve understanding of the district’s budget, and settling a contract with the teachers’ union.

Among the board’s student achievement goals would be increasing opportunities for online learning, as well as opportunities for dual enrollment.

Health and safety goals include maintaining and growing student and employee health and wellness, and reviewing building and district security plans.

There were several goals listed under the communications category, but the one which drew focus provided for increased “student participation in and the perceived value of School Board recognition ceremonies.”

Board President Lori Snyder insisted on including language that would place an emphasis on recognition for academic performance. The board solicited feedback from its two student liaisons on how to promote greater interest or participation in its recognition ceremonies.

Board member Randy Bennett was the sole dissenter in the vote on the goals. Speaking after the meeting, he described his vote as purely “a stand on principle” and reflected his views on the goals’ structure.